AN "amorous" duck is set to vanish from British waters if a peroposed cull of 6,000 birds takes place - and the plans have ruffled the feathers of a local bird club.

The West Midland Bird Club has used the ruddy duck as its emblem since the 1970s.

The duck was a popular captive bird when it was introduced from North America in the 1940s, but some ducks escaped and began to breed in the wild.

The flirty bird has been flying to Spain in winter and allegedly mating with the Spanish white-headed duck, which is an endangered species in mainland Europe. Its mating antics, which has created a cross species, has split the bird world in two.

The RSPB and Government fear that unless ruddy duck numbers are controlled, the white-headed duck will become extinct.

"Some ruddy ducks migrate to Spain in winter and are allegedly mating with the Spanish white headed duck and producing a 'genetically impure' hybrid," said Andrew Tyler, director of national campaign group Animal Aid.

"The white-headed duck is endangered, but mating between these two genetically close species is just a natural evolution process. It will be slaughtered to maintain this unnecessary purity."

Tony Kettle, chairman of the West Midland Bird Club's Kidderminster branch, agrees the species should be saved.

"In my opinion, interfering with this cross-breeding is messing with nature," he said.

"There are ruddy colonies throughout the world so there is no point in culling British birds if they're flying to Spain elsewhere from mainland Europe."

"The bird is lovely to look at, with an almost iridescent blue beak and ruddy front. I would not like to see it become extinct in Britain."

Despite regional concerns, the RSPB is backing the cull, which is being initiated by the Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs.

"It is a black day for the RSPB but we have to make a stand and back this campaign," said a spokesman for the society.

"The Spanish white-headed duck is the most threatened bird in mainland Europe, with only around 1,000 birds.

"We need to reduce ruddy duck numbers in the UK to a level where they are no longer a threat. There is genetic proof the birds are coming from Britain and the white-headed duck could become extinct."

A date for any possible cull has not yet been fixed.